Video: See the Dales by trike

Jason and Judith Richards got into trikes six years ago and are now the proud owners of a £30,000 German-made Boom Mustang. The mean machine can carry the couple and two passengers and gets them noticed whenever they ride out.

Now the couple, from Horsforth, Leeds have been granted a special Novelty Private Hire licence which allows the head-turning three-wheeler to be used as a taxi.

Jason is the designated chauffeur who is whisking passengers on 30 different tours of the Yorkshire Dales.

“We came up with the idea about a year ago because I have such a passion for trikes and I love the Yorkshire Dales.

“Customers are amazed really because the trikes give you the freedom and exhilaration of a motorbike but with the safety and comfort of a car.

“You get the sights, smells and sounds of being on a motorbike. The wind is in your hair and your face.

“You just sit back, relax and enjoy the views.”

All the rides start and finish in Ilkley and there are options to choose one or more of 18 of the major Dales in the National Park.

He never gets tired of the views, though he has seen them many times.

“The scenery is just gorgeous. Every time you see the same vista it looks totally different in the different seasons – that’s what keeps my passion and interest in the Dales.”

His wife, who is managing director of the company, Yorkshire Trike Tours, enjoys the attention that comes with riding such an unusual vehicle.

“It’s a unique experience. You feel as if you are on a motorbike – it’s very comfortable and very safe. You feel part of it (the Dales) rather than just going through it.”

When they purchased their first trike six years ago, the couple were surprised by the response it got from other road users and passers-by.

Judith now calls the trike her “posing machine” and enjoys chatting to people that gather around the bike whenever it is parked up.

After six years as hobby riders they decided to launch the business and since it was launched in August there have been plenty of people booking the trike tours.

But before they could offer paid tours they had to get a special licence from Leeds Council.

They have spent the last eight months working with the council’s private hire department which put a great deal of time and effort into creating a new category of vehicle for this business venture,

Yorkshire Trike Tours now has the only Novelty Private Hire licence in the city.

Judith commented: “To be the first business in Yorkshire to offer this experience makes us both very proud and we look forward to showing off the Yorkshire Dales to our guests in this unique way. It is an honour to have the distinction of being the very first operator, driver and vehicle in Yorkshire licensed for novelty private hire. We are proud and delighted to be number one.”

For those wanting a longer route, Yorkshire Trike Tours is offering a 110-mile, five-hour ride which follows stage one of next July’s Tour de France ride through Yorkshire.

Highlights include Bishopdale, Hawes, Buttertubs Pass, Swaledale, Leyburn and Ripon before finishing in Harrogate.

The tours have already impressed tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire whose press officer, Graham Poucher, took a ride earlier this year.

He said: “It was amazing and Jason is not only a brilliant tour guide but a really nice chap.”

He shared the trip with colleague Laura Mitchell who said: “Jason certainly know his stuff about Yorkshire – it made the tour even more enjoyable.”

Rock star Nick Baines – Peanut in the Kaiser Chiefs – also had a spin.

“Jason gave us the most brilliant and amazing ride out,” he said. “Highly recommended indeed.”